Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-22

THE OBSERVATIONS IN JAPAN SOMEWHAT INTERFERE
WITH BY CLOUDY WEATHER.


WITH BY CLOUDY WEATHER
cablegram 10 the NJ Y. Herald from Toxic.
August 19, via Yokohama, August 20. 1887, says:
The American eclipse expedition sent here under
the Joint auspices OF the American National Acad-
envy OF Sciences and the United states Navy De-
partment, accomplished It's work to-day as well as
the cloudy weather would permit, and possibly
better than any other expedition sent here on O
similar errand. IL came here under the direction
or the eminent mathematician, Prof. Simon New
comb, superintendent OF the Nautical Almanac
branch OF the Navy Department. Prof. David 4.
Todd OF Amherst College, Massachusetts was In
charge Of the expedition, assisted by Prof. Hitch
cock, OF the smithsonian Institution Washington,
ID. c.; Lieut.. Switzerland, United States Navy,
detailed from the Asiat1c feet by order OF the
secretary or the Navy; Rev. Dr. Holland OF Pitts
burg, Pa, naturalist; DIR. W. n. whitney, the In
terpreter here at the United States legation and
nary work Professor Todd was greatly assisted by
Professor kikuchi, who resides In Toxic. Shira-
kawa, the station selected for observing the
eclipse. is just beyond Tokio and was easily
reached from here. Everything was in readiness
& az the "a appointed n hour The point selected was
the eclipse, as located by Professor Newcomb on
the new map OF Japan and I'm the Instructions
party camped and arranged their instruments was
the site Of an old castle burned In 1868 The sum.
the pain Tns aYoroes nan o s,an les, ao1 sos
the instruments. which were placed In anticipa.
ion OF favorable weather and cloudless sky.
PRIMARY oBJEcTs OF THE EXPEDITION.
Inc piludry ouJcclS vi tne tAptultlOn were 70
secure photographs OF the partially eclipsed sun,
especially near the moments OF its critical phase
and OF the solar corona, while the sun was en-.
tirely covered. The photographs OF the corona, ie
was arranged, should be taken with the instru.
ments loaned and on the plan prescribed by the
director OF Harvard College Observatory. Prof.
Todd was also instructed 10 seek TO obtain such
photographs with the horizontal photo heliograph.
In addition he was TO secure drawings OF the
corona by native Japanese artists, make other
physical observations and observations In times
OF phases, especially the beginning and end Of
totality at various points The Navy Depart.
ment had also loaned It's most valuable instrrl-
ments purchased for similar observations Friday
morning Prof. Hitchcock had In readiness all the
plates that IL was probable would be used during
the afternoon.
THE EcIIPsE.
The eclipse began at 2 IA O'Clock. The beginning
OF the total phase was at 800, lasting three min
utes. The eclipse ended 4:125. Imagine the soIict
the eclipse began, when the cloudy weather
threatened TO make the long journey 10 japan
fru1tless expedition. But as the shadow Increased
there were CLEANS OF sunshine, aud though the
cloudy atmosphere interfered TO some extent with
the observations at the critical moment yet Prof.
Todd succeeded In obtaining fifteen photographs
of the partial phases OF the eclipse ten before and
five after totality. -Four plates for actinc effect
were also obtained. But during the period OF to-
tality the sun was unfortunately covered by
clouds, so that the corona was Invisible, and hence
IL was impossible 10 get photographs giving any
idea OF its appearance. Prof. Todd Is confident his
party has done quite as well any OF the expedi.
lions located In Japan. one OF the main objects
sought by this expedition Is 10 determine the path
OF the moons shadow over the earth's surface,
from which the relative positions OF the earth and
moon In their orbits can be determined and used
for the correction OF the lunar theory.
The members Of the party are all well, and those
from the United States Will leave for Washington
10y the next steamer from Yokohama, Prof. Todd
being ordered to report direct TO Prof. Newcomb,